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Today’s Reflection:
YOUR DREAMS ARE both powerful and rebellious. They are not bound by your fears, inertia, pain, or what your grandmother said about you. They don’t have to fit your cramped idea of who you think you are.
They don’t have to be reasonable, nor do they have to please your parents, your boss, or the church. They are free to take you to interior places you can’t imagine and challenge the way you run your life—and the way your life runs you.
They can be outrageous, daring, playful, zany, sexy. They speak truth as they point to your particular needs for growth. They highlight the changes you are now strong enough to make. Your dreams are full of parts of you that you have denied, disguised in your own easily decipherable dreamcode.
Best of all, your dreams are a venue in which God’s presence can be discerned. Your dreams are free to express your natural human spirituality even if you are turned off to organized religion.[Tilda Norberg, The Chocolate-Covered Umbrella]
From pages 26-27 of The Chocolate-Covered Umbrella: Discovering Your Dreamcode by Tilda Norberg. Copyright © 2008 by Tilda Norberg. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Fresh Air Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Have you ever gained spiritual insight through a dream?
Today’s Scripture:
How lonely sits the city that once was full of people! How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal.[Lamentations 1:1, NRSV]
This Week: pray for caregivers.
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Did You Know?In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
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This week we remember: Leoba (September 28).
Leoba
September 28
St. Leoba was an educated holy woman in the
September 28
St. Leoba was an educated holy woman in the
Middle Ages. As if that wasn't enough to make her stand out among her contemporaries, she also served as an advisor to kings and queens. Just before Leoba was born, her mother dreamed that the child would do great service for the Church, and Leoba didn't disappoint. When she was seven years old she went to the monastery at Wimbourne, where she underwent much of her formative spiritual education.
In or around AD 733, her cousin St. Boniface asked her to help him in his church building efforts in Germany. She agreed, and was appointed abbess at Bishofscheim in Germany. For forty years she taught the Scripture to young nuns at Bishofscheim, and was eagerly sought by many for her wisdom and knowledge. She was friend and counselor to Hildegard, the wife of Charlemagne, and died in 779.
If St. Leoba had taken the Spiritual Types Test she probably would have been a Sage. Anselm's feast day is September 28.
Image of statue in Schornsheim.-------
Lectionary Readings:
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Lamentations 1:1-6
Psalm 137
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10
If St. Leoba had taken the Spiritual Types Test she probably would have been a Sage. Anselm's feast day is September 28.
Image of statue in Schornsheim.-------
Lectionary Readings:
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Lamentations 1:1-6
Psalm 137
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Luke 17:5-10
Scripture Text for Lamentations 1:1 How lonely lies the city
that once thronged with people!
Once great among the nations,
now she is like a widow!
Once princess among provinces,
she has become a vassal.
2 Bitterly she weeps at night,
tears running down her cheeks.
Not one of all her lovers
is there to comfort her.
Her friends have all betrayed her;
they have become her enemies.
3 Y’hudah has fled into exile
from oppression and endless slavery.
She lives among the nations,
but there she finds no rest.
Her pursuers have all overtaken her
in the midst of her distress.
4 The roads to Tziyon are mourning
because no one comes to the festivals.
Her gateways are all deserted,
her cohanim are groaning,
her unmarried girls are grieving —
how bitter it is for her!
5 Her foes have become the head,
her enemies relax,
for Adonai has made her suffer
because of her many sins.
Her young children have gone away
captive before the foe.
6 All splendor has departed
from the daughter of Tziyon.
Her princes have become like deer
unable to find pasture,
running on, exhausted,
fleeing from the hunter.
Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Bavel we sat down and wept
as we remembered Tziyon.
2 We had hung up our lyres
on the willows that were there,
3 when those who had taken us captive
asked us to sing them a song;
our tormentors demanded joy from us —
“Sing us one of the songs from Tziyon!”
4 How can we sing a song about Adonai
here on foreign soil?
5 If I forget you, Yerushalayim,
may my right hand wither away!
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I fail to remember you,
if I fail to count Yerushalayim
the greatest of all my joys.
7 Remember, Adonai, against the people of Edom
the day of Yerushalayim’s fall,
how they cried, “Tear it down! Tear it down!
Raze it to the ground!”
8 Daughter of Bavel, you will be destroyed!
A blessing on anyone who pays you back
for the way you treated us!
9 A blessing on anyone who seizes your babies
and smashes them against a rock!
2 Timothy 1:1 From: Sha’ul, an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, which holds forth a promise of life through being united with Messiah Yeshua
2 To: Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and shalom from God the Father and the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
3 I give thanks to God, whom, like my forbears, I worship with a clean conscience, as I regularly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 I am reminded of your tears, and I long to see you, so that I might be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere trust, the same trust that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice had first; and I am convinced that you too now have this trust.
6 For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me. 7 For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline. 8 So don’t be ashamed of bearing testimony to our Lord or to me, his prisoner. On the contrary, accept your share in suffering disgrace for the sake of the Good News. God will give you the strength for it, 9 since he delivered us and called us to a life of holiness as his people. It was not because of our deeds, but because of his own purpose and the grace which he gave to us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He did this before the beginning of time, 10 but made it public only now through the appearing of our Deliverer, the Messiah Yeshua, who abolished death and, through the Good News, revealed life and immortality.
11 It was for this Good News that I was appointed a proclaimer, emissary and teacher of the Goyim; 12 and this is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know him in whom I have put my trust, and I am persuaded that he can keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound teachings you have heard from me, with trust and the love which is yours in the Messiah Yeshua. 14 Keep safe the great treasure that has been entrusted to you, with the help of the Ruach HaKodesh, who lives in us.
Luke 17:5 The emissaries said to the Lord, “Increase our trust.” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had trust as tiny as a mustard seed, you could say to this fig tree, ‘Be uprooted and replanted in the sea!’ and it would obey you. 7 If one of you has a slave tending the sheep or plowing, when he comes back from the field, will you say to him, ‘Come along now, sit down and eat’? 8 No, you’ll say, ‘Get my supper ready, dress for work, and serve me until I have finished eating and drinking; after that, you may eat and drink.’ 9 Does he thank the slave because he did what he was told to do? No! 10 It’s the same with you — when you have done everything you were told to do, you should be saying, ‘We’re just ordinary slaves, we have only done our duty.’”
The John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Lamentations 1:1-6
A widow — She that had a king, or rather a God, that was an husband to her, now was forsaken of God, and her king taken from her.
Verse 3
[3] Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
Because — Because of the servitude and oppression exercised among them: oppression by their rulers, and servitude more generally; keeping their servants beyond the year of jubilee, when they ought to be set at liberty.
The straits — Those that pursued them overtook them in places where they could not escape.
Verse 4
[4] The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
She — Persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness.
Psalm 137
Verse 1
[1] By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Sat — The usual posture of mourners.
Verse 2
[2] We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Harps — Harps are here put for all instruments of musick.
Verse 3
[3] For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
A song — Such songs as you used to sing in the temple of Zion.
Verse 4
[4] How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
The Lord's — Those songs which were appointed by God to be sung only in his service.
Verse 6
[6] If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
If — If I do not value Jerusalem's prosperity more than all other delights.
Verse 7
[7] Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
The day — In the time of its destruction.
Verse 8
[8] O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
Happy — As being God's instrument to vindicate his honour, and execute his just judgments.
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Verse 3
[3] I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
Whom I serve from my forefathers — That is, whom both I and my ancestors served.
With a pure conscience — He always worshipped God according to his conscience, both before and after his conversion One who stands on the verge of life is much refreshed by the remembrance of his predecessors, to whom he is going.
Verse 4
[4] Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Being mindful of thy tears — Perhaps frequently shed, as well as at the apostle's last parting with him.
Verse 5
[5] When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Which dwelt — A word not applied to a transient guest, but only to a settled inhabitant.
First — Probably this was before Timothy was born, yet not beyond St. Paul's memory.
Verse 6
[6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Wherefore — Because I remember this.
I remind thee of stirring up — Literally, blowing up the coals into a flame.
The gift of God — All the spiritual gifts, which the grace of God has given thee.
Verse 7
[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
And let nothing discourage thee, for God hath not given us - That is, the spirit which God hath given us Christians, is not the spirit of fear - Or cowardice.
But of power — Banishing fear.
And love and sobriety — These animate us in our duties to God, our brethren, and ourselves. Power and sobriety are two good extremes. Love is between, the tie and temperament of both; preventing the two bad extremes of fearfulness and rashness. More is said concerning power, 1 Timothy 1:8; concerning love, 2 Timothy 2:14, etc.; concerning sobriety, 2 Timothy 3:1, etc.
Verse 8
[8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Therefore be not thou ashamed — When fear is banished, evil shame also flees away.
Of the testimony of our Lord — The gospel, and of testifying the truth of it to all men.
Nor of me — The cause of the servants of God doing his work, cannot be separated from the cause of God himself.
But be thou partaker of the afflictions — Which I endure for the gospel's sake.
According to the power of God — This which overcomes all things is nervously described in the two next verses.
Verse 9
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Who hath saved us — By faith. The love of the Father, the grace of our Saviour, and the whole economy of salvation, are here admirably described.
Having called us with an holy calling — Which is all from God, and claims us all for God.
According to his own purpose and grace — That is, his own gracious purpose.
Which was given us — Fixed for our advantage, before the world began.
Verse 10
[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
By the appearing of our Saviour — This implies his whole abode upon earth.
Who hath abolished death — Taken away its sting, and turned it into a blessing.
And hath brought life and immortality to light — Hath clearly revealed by the gospel that immortal life which he hath purchased for us.
Verse 12
[12] For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
That which I have committed to him — My soul.
Until that day — Of his final appearing.
Verse 13
[13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
The pattern of sound words — The model of pure, wholesome doctrine.
Verse 14
[14] That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
The good thing — This wholesome doctrine.
Luke 17:5-10
Verse 5
[5] And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Lord, increase our faith — That we may thus forgive, and may neither offend nor be offended. Matthew 17:20.
Verse 6
[6] And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
And he said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed — If ye had the least measure of true faith, no instance of duty would be too hard for you.
Ye would say to this sycamine tree — This seems to have been a kind of proverbial expression.
Verse 7
[7] But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
But which of you — But is it not meet that you should first obey, and then triumph? Though still with a deep sense of your utter unprofitableness.
Verse 9
[9] Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Doth he thank that servant — Does he account himself obliged to him?
Verse 10
[10] So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
When ye have done all, say, We are unprofitable servants — For a man cannot profit God. Happy is he who judges himself an unprofitable servant: miserable is he whom God pronounces such. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us. For he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which in consequence of his promise entitles us to an eternal reward.
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The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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that once thronged with people!
Once great among the nations,
now she is like a widow!
Once princess among provinces,
she has become a vassal.
2 Bitterly she weeps at night,
tears running down her cheeks.
Not one of all her lovers
is there to comfort her.
Her friends have all betrayed her;
they have become her enemies.
3 Y’hudah has fled into exile
from oppression and endless slavery.
She lives among the nations,
but there she finds no rest.
Her pursuers have all overtaken her
in the midst of her distress.
4 The roads to Tziyon are mourning
because no one comes to the festivals.
Her gateways are all deserted,
her cohanim are groaning,
her unmarried girls are grieving —
how bitter it is for her!
5 Her foes have become the head,
her enemies relax,
for Adonai has made her suffer
because of her many sins.
Her young children have gone away
captive before the foe.
6 All splendor has departed
from the daughter of Tziyon.
Her princes have become like deer
unable to find pasture,
running on, exhausted,
fleeing from the hunter.
Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Bavel we sat down and wept
as we remembered Tziyon.
2 We had hung up our lyres
on the willows that were there,
3 when those who had taken us captive
asked us to sing them a song;
our tormentors demanded joy from us —
“Sing us one of the songs from Tziyon!”
4 How can we sing a song about Adonai
here on foreign soil?
5 If I forget you, Yerushalayim,
may my right hand wither away!
6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I fail to remember you,
if I fail to count Yerushalayim
the greatest of all my joys.
7 Remember, Adonai, against the people of Edom
the day of Yerushalayim’s fall,
how they cried, “Tear it down! Tear it down!
Raze it to the ground!”
8 Daughter of Bavel, you will be destroyed!
A blessing on anyone who pays you back
for the way you treated us!
9 A blessing on anyone who seizes your babies
and smashes them against a rock!
2 Timothy 1:1 From: Sha’ul, an emissary of the Messiah Yeshua by God’s will, which holds forth a promise of life through being united with Messiah Yeshua
2 To: Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and shalom from God the Father and the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.
3 I give thanks to God, whom, like my forbears, I worship with a clean conscience, as I regularly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4 I am reminded of your tears, and I long to see you, so that I might be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere trust, the same trust that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice had first; and I am convinced that you too now have this trust.
6 For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me. 7 For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline. 8 So don’t be ashamed of bearing testimony to our Lord or to me, his prisoner. On the contrary, accept your share in suffering disgrace for the sake of the Good News. God will give you the strength for it, 9 since he delivered us and called us to a life of holiness as his people. It was not because of our deeds, but because of his own purpose and the grace which he gave to us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua. He did this before the beginning of time, 10 but made it public only now through the appearing of our Deliverer, the Messiah Yeshua, who abolished death and, through the Good News, revealed life and immortality.
11 It was for this Good News that I was appointed a proclaimer, emissary and teacher of the Goyim; 12 and this is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know him in whom I have put my trust, and I am persuaded that he can keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound teachings you have heard from me, with trust and the love which is yours in the Messiah Yeshua. 14 Keep safe the great treasure that has been entrusted to you, with the help of the Ruach HaKodesh, who lives in us.
Luke 17:5 The emissaries said to the Lord, “Increase our trust.” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had trust as tiny as a mustard seed, you could say to this fig tree, ‘Be uprooted and replanted in the sea!’ and it would obey you. 7 If one of you has a slave tending the sheep or plowing, when he comes back from the field, will you say to him, ‘Come along now, sit down and eat’? 8 No, you’ll say, ‘Get my supper ready, dress for work, and serve me until I have finished eating and drinking; after that, you may eat and drink.’ 9 Does he thank the slave because he did what he was told to do? No! 10 It’s the same with you — when you have done everything you were told to do, you should be saying, ‘We’re just ordinary slaves, we have only done our duty.’”
The John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Lamentations 1:1-6
Verse 1
[1] How doth the city sit solitary, that wasfull of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!A widow — She that had a king, or rather a God, that was an husband to her, now was forsaken of God, and her king taken from her.
Verse 3
[3] Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.
Because — Because of the servitude and oppression exercised among them: oppression by their rulers, and servitude more generally; keeping their servants beyond the year of jubilee, when they ought to be set at liberty.
The straits — Those that pursued them overtook them in places where they could not escape.
Verse 4
[4] The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
She — Persons of all ages and ranks are in bitterness.
Psalm 137
Verse 1
[1] By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
Sat — The usual posture of mourners.
Verse 2
[2] We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
Harps — Harps are here put for all instruments of musick.
Verse 3
[3] For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
A song — Such songs as you used to sing in the temple of Zion.
Verse 4
[4] How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
The Lord's — Those songs which were appointed by God to be sung only in his service.
Verse 6
[6] If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
If — If I do not value Jerusalem's prosperity more than all other delights.
Verse 7
[7] Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
The day — In the time of its destruction.
Verse 8
[8] O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
Happy — As being God's instrument to vindicate his honour, and execute his just judgments.
2 Timothy 1:1-14
Verse 3
[3] I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
Whom I serve from my forefathers — That is, whom both I and my ancestors served.
With a pure conscience — He always worshipped God according to his conscience, both before and after his conversion One who stands on the verge of life is much refreshed by the remembrance of his predecessors, to whom he is going.
Verse 4
[4] Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Being mindful of thy tears — Perhaps frequently shed, as well as at the apostle's last parting with him.
Verse 5
[5] When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Which dwelt — A word not applied to a transient guest, but only to a settled inhabitant.
First — Probably this was before Timothy was born, yet not beyond St. Paul's memory.
Verse 6
[6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Wherefore — Because I remember this.
I remind thee of stirring up — Literally, blowing up the coals into a flame.
The gift of God — All the spiritual gifts, which the grace of God has given thee.
Verse 7
[7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
And let nothing discourage thee, for God hath not given us - That is, the spirit which God hath given us Christians, is not the spirit of fear - Or cowardice.
But of power — Banishing fear.
And love and sobriety — These animate us in our duties to God, our brethren, and ourselves. Power and sobriety are two good extremes. Love is between, the tie and temperament of both; preventing the two bad extremes of fearfulness and rashness. More is said concerning power, 1 Timothy 1:8; concerning love, 2 Timothy 2:14, etc.; concerning sobriety, 2 Timothy 3:1, etc.
Verse 8
[8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Therefore be not thou ashamed — When fear is banished, evil shame also flees away.
Of the testimony of our Lord — The gospel, and of testifying the truth of it to all men.
Nor of me — The cause of the servants of God doing his work, cannot be separated from the cause of God himself.
But be thou partaker of the afflictions — Which I endure for the gospel's sake.
According to the power of God — This which overcomes all things is nervously described in the two next verses.
Verse 9
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Who hath saved us — By faith. The love of the Father, the grace of our Saviour, and the whole economy of salvation, are here admirably described.
Having called us with an holy calling — Which is all from God, and claims us all for God.
According to his own purpose and grace — That is, his own gracious purpose.
Which was given us — Fixed for our advantage, before the world began.
Verse 10
[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
By the appearing of our Saviour — This implies his whole abode upon earth.
Who hath abolished death — Taken away its sting, and turned it into a blessing.
And hath brought life and immortality to light — Hath clearly revealed by the gospel that immortal life which he hath purchased for us.
Verse 12
[12] For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
That which I have committed to him — My soul.
Until that day — Of his final appearing.
Verse 13
[13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
The pattern of sound words — The model of pure, wholesome doctrine.
Verse 14
[14] That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
The good thing — This wholesome doctrine.
Luke 17:5-10
Verse 5
[5] And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
Lord, increase our faith — That we may thus forgive, and may neither offend nor be offended. Matthew 17:20.
Verse 6
[6] And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
And he said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed — If ye had the least measure of true faith, no instance of duty would be too hard for you.
Ye would say to this sycamine tree — This seems to have been a kind of proverbial expression.
Verse 7
[7] But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
But which of you — But is it not meet that you should first obey, and then triumph? Though still with a deep sense of your utter unprofitableness.
Verse 9
[9] Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
Doth he thank that servant — Does he account himself obliged to him?
Verse 10
[10] So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
When ye have done all, say, We are unprofitable servants — For a man cannot profit God. Happy is he who judges himself an unprofitable servant: miserable is he whom God pronounces such. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us. For he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which in consequence of his promise entitles us to an eternal reward.
-------
The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
-------
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